Oxford Immunotec Appoints Louis O'Dea Chief Medical Officer

July 07, 2014 07:00 ET | Source:Oxford Immunotec

OXFORD, United Kingdom and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oxford Immunotec Global PLC (Nasdaq:OXFD), a global, commercial-stage diagnostics company committed to improving patient care by providing advanced, innovative tests in the field of immunology, today announced that Louis O'Dea, MB, BCh, BAO, has joined the company as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. O'Dea brings to Oxford Immunotec more than 20 years of worldwide pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology industry management experience. Dr. O'Dea will support the continued growth of our current T-SPOT.TB business and the development of new products through management of our medical education and clinical trial programs. Prior to joining Oxford Immunotec, Dr. O'Dea served as the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Regulatory Affairs at Moderna Therapeutics. Prior to Moderna, he was Chief Medical Officer of Radius Health, Inc. and Head of Clinical Development for the Metabolic and Reproductive Health unit of Serono, a division of Merck.

"Oxford Immunotec is a leader in the world of immunology-based diagnostics, proven by the global success of the T-SPOT.TB test and a robust pipeline of products based on its core T-SPOT technology platform," said Dr. O'Dea. "I look forward to contributing to the Company's continued success as it grows and expands into new markets."

"Dr. O'Dea is accomplished in successfully managing both pharmaceuticals and devices through clinical trials, regulatory approval and commercialization in the US, Europe and Japan. We are extremely fortunate to have him join our team," said CEO, Dr. Peter Wrighton-Smith. "The breadth and depth of Louis's clinical development experience will be instrumental to Oxford Immunotec's efforts to launch new products well-supported with clinical data and well-suited to the needs of the market."

Dr. O'Dea is a board-certified physician in internal medicine and endocrinology in the United States and Canada. He received his MB, BCh, and BAO degrees from University College in Dublin, Ireland, followed by postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at McGill University, and a research and clinical fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Notes to Editors:

About Oxford Immunotec Global PLC

Oxford Immunotec Global PLC is a global, commercial-stage diagnostics company committed to improving patient care by providing advanced, innovative tests in the field of immunology. The proprietary T-SPOT® technology platform measures the responses of specific immune cells, known as T cells, to inform the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of patients with immunologically controlled diseases. T cells are a central component of the human body's immune system, and are implicated in the control and progression of many medical conditions, including certain types of infectious diseases, cancers and autoimmune diseases. The Company's initial product developed using the T-SPOT technology platform is the T-SPOT.TB test, which is used to test for latent tuberculosis infection. The T-SPOT.TB test hasbeen approved for sale in over 50 countries, including the United States, where it has receivedpre-market approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Europe, where it has obtained a CE mark, as well as Japan and China. The Company is headquartered near Oxford, UK and in Marlborough, MA.

T-SPOT and the Oxford Immunotec logo are trademarks of Oxford Immunotec Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future success of the company. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and currently available data and are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events or performance. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements after they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Easily Send & Share Press Releases

GlobeNewswire, a NASDAQ OMX company, is one of the world's largest newswire distribution networks, specializing in the delivery of corporate press releases financial disclosures and multimedia content to the media, investment community, individual investors and the general public.